PARA ATHLETICS.

Para athletics is the most widely practiced Paralympic Sport. The parasport offers a wide range of competitions and is open to male and female para-athletes.

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Para-athletes compete according to their functional classification in wheelchairs, with prostheses or with guidance if visually impaired.

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The first para athletics competition was held in 1952 when wheelchair racing was part of the Stoke Mandeville Games. In 1960, para athletics was included at the first Paralympic Games.

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Para athletics is governed by the International Paralympic Committee and co-ordinated by World Para Athletics.

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Events in the Paralympic programme include track events from sprint to long distance, marathon as road event, field events from jumps to discus, shot put, and javelin; as well as the combined event pentathlon.